Jackalopes top Mudbugs to clinch 5th seed

Staff ReportsMidland Reporter-Telegram

Published 7:00 pm, Saturday, March 26, 2011

ODESSA - On a night where Sebastien Thinel was honored by being placed in the franchise's Hall of Fame, the Odessa Jackalopes finished their regular season with a 4-2 win over the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs. With the win the Jackalopes finalize their place as the fifth seed in the Central Hockey League's Berry Conference for the postseason.

Mike Ramsay and Matt Gens each finished with two-point nights for the Jacks, who end the 2010-11 campaign with a 31-28-7 record.

Jeff Kyrzakos scored each of the Mudbugs' (37-26-3) goals. Joel Martin stopped 26 shots for the win in his first appearance for Odessa since being called up to the AHL on January 4th.

The Jacks jumped out to a 2-0 lead in period one as Luke Stauffacher scored just 90 seconds into the game, before Gens struck again midway through. Both goals came on the power play for the Jacks.

Kyrzakos made it a 2-1 contest after scoring just a minute into the second period. The Jacks answered back with a shorthanded goal on a breakaway by Mike Lesperance.

Thinel made it a 4-1 game in the third period from Todd Robinson. With the goal Thinel finishes the season with 110 points on the season to lead the CHL. Robinson extended his point streak to 17 games, tying Thinel for the team-high this season. Kyrzakos scored again for the Bugs to finalize the score.

John DeCaro made 21 saves in the loss for the Mudbugs.

The Jackalopes now look towards the start of the playoffs as they will visit either Tulsa or Texas for the Opening Round best-of-five. Game three will be back in Odessa on April 5th. Game four, if necessary, will be on April 7th.